Heavy on Sounds -- Under 11 Pounds!

Designed with the gigging musician in mind, the Yamaha MX61 offers all the professional sounds, effects, and performance features you could want in a super-lightweight keyboard. At only 10.6 pounds, the 61-key MX61 is easy to transport from studio to stage. Tap into the more than 1,000 voices taken directly from the Yamaha Motif XS series of synths, editable right on the keyboard. Standard 5-pin MIDI, audio, and USB I/O make it easy to integrate the MX61 into your setup. In the studio, advanced controller features give you hands-on control for DAWs and virtual instruments, and the included Steinberg Cubase AI software provides everything you need to get started making music right out of the box.

Over a Thousand Sounds at Your Fingertips

From pianos and strings to drums and synth sounds, the MX61 has a voice for every purpose. This synth borrows its 1,000+ awesome voices from Yamaha's Motif XS series, making a pro soundset available in a significantly more affordable unit. The MX61's streamlined interface is easy to navigate, too, providing you with hands-on selection of all the voices as well as the ability to edit and store your own sounds directly on the keyboard.

Live performances are made all the better with the MX61's 16-part multi settings and 128-note polyphony. Switch between any of the 16 parts without the sound cutting off, and enjoy playing lush DAW MIDI tracks without dropping any notes.

VCM Effects for Vintage Tones

Give your performance that '70s sound with the keyboard's built-in Virtual Circuit Modeling (VCM) effects, which simulate the vintage sounds of equalizer, flanger, phaser, and wah effects introduced by legendary keyboards from way back when.

Easy Split/Layer Performance Mode

Whether you're noodling around, or finding sounds fast for a last-minute gig, you'll appreciate the MX61's split and layer functions available in Performance Mode. Combine two voices to play on the keyboard using the dedicated Split and Layer buttons -- each with their own arpeggiator -- and a dedicated part for a drum track.

Functions as a 2-Channel Audio/1x1 MIDI Interface

Connect your MX61 to your computer via USB to send and receive MIDI data and stereo audio over one cable. You'll be able to monitor your DAW tracks and all the sounds from virtual instruments via the headphone output of the MX61. Designed for professional music applications, the MX61's built-in digital-to-analog converters make your DAW's output sound great. Moreover, the MX interface is bi-directional so you can record the internal sounds of the MX61 directly to your computer without sending them through another conversion.

USB to Device Port and 1/8" Stereo In

There's no shortage of connectivity options on this synth. In addition to the USB audio/MIDI port, there's a USB to Device port so you can connect USB devices for storing MX data to external memory or for playing back WAV files directly from a USB stick. Add an MP3 player or tablet to your setup by connecting to the AUX input using a mini stereo cable.

Do More with Your DAW

Dedicated knobs and buttons allow you to use the MX61 as a controller for internal sounds, DAW parameters, and VST instruments. The keyboard's easy-to-use interface is combined with a remote template editor on your computer, which means that any of your VSTs can be set up to be controlled by the MX61. When using the MX61 with the included Cubase AI music-production software, you can mouse over any parameter, then use the MX61's large AI knob to control it.

Music-Production Software Included

Cubase AI offers 48 audio tracks and 64 MIDI tracks, notation, built-in VST effects, and much more. The MX61 also ships with instruments like Steinberg Prologue and the Yamaha YC-3B organ emulator, as well as Remote Template editors for setting up controls for VSTs. The MX61 provides everything you need to get started making music right away.

Yamaha MX61 Music Production Synthesizer

Over 1000 Sounds from the MOTIF Series

The MX series contains more than 1000 Voices derived directly from the world famous Yamaha MOTIF XS series. From realistic acoustic sounds like piano, electric piano, strings and drums to complex 8-element synth sounds, the MX has all of your favorite Motif XS Voices right at your fingertips. The MX even has a streamlined interface for instant hands-on selection of all those great Voices. The category selection makes it easier than ever to find the Voice you need. You can even edit and store your own sounds right onboard.

VCM Effects

MX synthesizers come equipped with VCM effects, which simulate vintage effectors at the circuit level. The sounds of the '70s are brought back to life, through simulating the hard-to-find vintage sounds of equalizer, flanger, phaser, and wah effects introduced by the keyboard legends of the era.

Easy Split /Layer Performance Mode for Instant Inspiration

Performance Mode on the Motifs has always been the place to find instant inspiration and the MX is no different. You can easily combine two Voices to play on the keyboard using the dedicated Split and Layer buttons each with their own intelligent arpeggiator and a dedicated Part for a drum track to create evocative Performances that feel like a whole band is playing. The 128 Performances on the MX are all user editable, but come programmed with club-friendly grooves.

16-Part Multi Timbral and 128-note Polyphony

Each Performance contains not only the three sounds described above, but all the settings for a complete 16-Part Multi setting for play. You can switch between any of the 16 Parts without the sound cutting off. With 128 notes of polyphony there are plenty of notes to play even the densest sequences from your DAW. These features make the MX the perfect tone generator solution for live performance and live playback of DAW MIDI tracks.

Bi-directional USB Audio/MIDI Interfacing

But the MX doesn't just control software DAWs and VSTs. Just connect a USB cable to your computer and you can monitor all the sounds from your computer via the headphone output of the MX or listen to your DAW tracks by connecting the MX to external studio monitors or PA gear. The audio converters on the MX are made for professional music applications so everything on your computer, even games, will sound better when using the MX as the output. The MX interface is bi-directional so you can record the internal sounds of the MX directly to your computer, without ever going to the analog domain, for the highest possible quality.

Extensive Hands-On Controls for VSTs and DAWs

The MX also features solid knobs and durable buttons for controlling internal sounds, DAW parameters and VST instruments. The deceptively simple interface is combined with a remote template editor on your computer so any VST you own or any VSTs you buy can be easily set up to be controlled by the MX. There are advanced integration templates for use with a variety of DAWs. When used with Cubase, there is even an AI knob so any parameter can be controlled by the large rotary encoder just by mousing over it. It has never been quicker to take full control of Cubase.

A Complete Suite of Music Production Software Included

The MX series is the only hardware synth in its price range to come with a complete suite of music production software tools. The included Steinberg Cubase AI features 48 audio tracks and 64 MIDI tracks, notation, built-in VST effects, so with just the MX and AI you can do complete productions. But we didn't stop there; it comes bundled with Steinberg Prologue and the Yamaha YC-3B organ emulator so you have some compelling VSTs to get started. Plus there are Remote Template editors for setting up controls of VSTs. Finally, Yamaha has worked with some third party developers to ensure that there will be fully functional cross platform editors available at release.

Complete Analog and Digital Connectivity

In addition to the USB audio/MIDI port, the MX has a USB to Device port so you can connect USB devices for storing MX data to external memory and even playing back wave files directly from a USB stick. If you want to add a tablet or an MP3 player to your system just connect to the AUX input using a mini stereo cable and you are ready to go.

A Lightweight Design with a Quality Yamaha Keyboard

While almost all other keyboard controllers use inexpensive OEM keyboards, the MX features an expertly crafted keyboard that only Yamaha -- the world's largest keyboard manufacturer -- could produce. Weighing only 3.8kg (MX49) or 4.8kg (MX61), either synthesizer can be carried easily with one hand. MX synthesizers have a compact design so they are easy to carry to the gig and also fit easily into today's compact home music production studios.

zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
"Great sound for the price"

Sound:
The voices are great, especially the concert grand which is one of the main ones I love from the Motif. I'm very picky about my piano sounds as it's my favorite instrument and this one voice doesn't disappoint at all. The drum kits are quality sounding, as good as some of my expensive virtual instruments. There is a small handful of voices that seemed a bit lacking but given the right place they would fit wonderfully. I still have yet to try out every voice though as there is a lot of them.
There are two 3rd party editors available to modify performances and other settings very easily. One gives full control of the voices. This is one aspect about this board that makes it very powerful and shouldn't be overlooked. As a note about this, if you find that the volume output level is too low (all outputs), one of those editors will let you set the specific voice common volume when you build your performances/custom voices. I was able to get a great output level after adjusting them. There are 5 total volumes you can adjust, master knob, main, DAW, part, and voice common so be sure to tend to all of the ones that affect your current setup.
Feature:
The best feature is the editing of voices and performances and the ability to save them for fast recall. The least is probably the arps, while it has some great ones that are fun to along play with, I always go my own way so they serve me no purpose when composing.
Ease of Use:
The navigation and getting to instruments is easy even though it only offers a two line LCD. I had no issues with the USB connectivity, my DAW, any VSTi, or working with MIDI. It was as simple as installing the driver and getting right to the fun part.
Quality:
The keys feel nice with minimal lateral movement (side to side play) and the overall construction, while plastic, is fairly rigid. The knobs, controls and buttons feel decent as well but the AI jog wheel and knobs have some shaft flex so I assume they are plastic. However, the actual adjustment of the knobs is firm and smooth indicating the the insides of the pots are most likely well built.
Value:
While it might look somewhat basic and lacking with 166MB wav data, this synthesizer is packed, especially when paired with an editor and is definitely worth the cost. I don't think you can find better at this price range considering the Motif sounds and 128 poly.
Manufacturer Support:
I can't honestly say as I've never had to contact them before. This is a good thing. :)
The Wow Factor:
The wow factor here for me is that the sound of the voices are of more than usable quality, the keys don't feel bad and it's got a decent price tag.
Overall:
I've had this synth now for 1 month and spent a fair amount of time playing it. So far I'm quite impressed. I was in need of a new midi keyboard controller but decided to go the synth route as there was more quality in that area plus I would be getting a lot of new sounds at my disposal at the same time. Yamaha was the obvious choice for me as I own some of their products already and I like them very much. Onto the board!

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zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
"Yamaha MX61 Keyboard"

Overall:
I absolutely LOVE this keyboard. It's so light, I can carry it with one hand and it has a lot of the sounds from my old Motif 6. I love the feel of the keys, the built in beat patterns and the one button layer & split. I only have 1 problem with it....the volume! It doesn't get very loud even with the volume turned all the way up. I hope that Yamaha can suggest how to get a better level of volume, otherwise GREAT, affordable board.

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